ERICKA MELLON, Copyright 2010 Houston Chronicle |
July 14, 2010

Diana and Abel Davila spent $30,000 in campaign money last August on high-visibility billboards. Neither ended up seeking re-election.

HISD trustee Diana Dávila said Wednesday she will resign from the school board Thursday, more than a year before her term ends.

Dávila, who was first elected to the school board in 2003, said she is stepping down because of "personal family issues." Dávila is married to Abel Dávila, the former chairman of the Houston Community College board who decided unexpectedly last year not to seek re-election. They have two children, ages 6 and 8.

"There are certain things going on in our lives currently that need our attention," she said. "We have our own personal businesses that require some of our attention. And I have two growing children that require more of mommy’s attention."

Dávila said her husband is expanding his pharmacy business, and she and her parents own a restaurant.

She said her resignation is not related to the article in the Houston Chronicle on Sunday that said she had tried to appoint her husband to an Houston Independent School District committee that oversees a nearly $1 billion construction program, a move the district’s inspector general concluded was a conflict of interest.

Dávila then recommended her political campaign manager, Manuel Barrera Jr., to the Bond Oversight Committee. Barrera resigned from that post Sunday, complaining that the newspaper story was intended to embarrass Hispanics.

Former teacher

Dávila represents District VIII on the city’s east side, which includes Austin and Furr high schools.

She previously taught in the Houston Independent School District and served as the president of the school board in 2006. She has been an outspoken proponent of dual-credit courses, which allow students to get both high school and college credit. Most of the courses are offered in conjunction with HCC.

Abel Dávila surprised many by not filing for re-election to the HCC board last fall.

In August, he spent $30,000 in campaign money on five billboards featuring he and his wife alongside HISD and HCC logos.

Tactics questioned

A month later, when the final day came for candidates to file for their names to appear on last November’s ballot, Abel Dávila didn’t show up. Instead, Diana Dávila’s brother, Arturo Aguilar, filed to run just 19 minutes before the deadline, making him the only candidate. Aguilar withdrew his name from the ballot a few days later after many in the district questioned the tactic. Abel Dávila later said he regretted his handling of the situation.

HISD’s private attorney, David Thompson, explained that state law specific to HISD says the board "shall" appoint a replacement to fill any vacancies. The person would serve until the next regular election, which is in November 2011. But the law also says that "should the board for any reason fail or refuse to fill" an open spot, it must call a special election.

Dávila said she hoped there would be an election.

"I have no one in mind," she said. "The community should have the opportunity to decide who they want to represent them."

HISD board president Greg Meyers said trustees will get a legal briefing before deciding their next steps.

"It’s unfortunate when we lose a team member," Meyers said. "Ms. Dávila will be a big loss to the district."

Dávila said she plans to announce her resignation publicly at the school board’s 5 p.m. meeting today and then to leave immediately because she did not read the agenda materials.